Over at Daily Kos Jon Powers, candidate for Congress in NY-26, asks some very good questions of General Petraeus and makes some salient points in the process. Check it out here and go on over and comment.

“Today, confirmation hearings will be held to name General David Petraeus the head of U.S. Central Command (CentCom) in the Middle East and Central Asia. General Petraeus is currently the U.S. Commander in Iraq and the architect of the strategy which dramatically increased the number of U.S. troops in Iraq – commonly known as “the surge.” During General Petraeus’ prior confirmation hearing for his current post, he avoided questions about the Bush Administration’s Iraq strategy and its overall effect on our national security. He also refused to answer questions regarding the Administration’s Iraq Strategy and the effect on the military readiness of our troops. General Petraeus’ rationale, was that as the U.S. Commander in Iraq, he was limited to policy in Iraq and he would therefore limit his answers to questions regarding Iraq instead of America’s national security and troop readiness.”

Powers is in a good position to make these observations since he served in Iraq as an Army Captain and witnessed firsthand the problems with the Bush administration’s inept policies. Given our continued presence in a war that was presumably “Mission Accomplished,” it is inconceivable that the architects of this currrent strategy will assume the role of an even larger assignment without answering questions such as those proposed by Powers.

We need leaders who level with the Americans they pledge to serve.

The Bush II years seem like one long forced feeding. Finally we must spit it out.

Related posts:

1. Jon Powers shows real leadership, asks Bush to re-define mission in Iraq
2. Kuhl Speaks about Petraeus
3. NY-26: Jon Powers Responds to McCain’s comments on redeploying soldiers in Iraq
4. Petraeus, then and now
5. Wes Clark endorses Jon Powers in NY-26